How Senior Police Officer, CSP Abonde Was Lynched By Angry Motorcycle Operators

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

Facts have finally emerged on how a Senior Police officer in charge of operations at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, CSP, Kazeem Abonde, was lynched last Thursday, during a clash with commercial motorcyclists, popularly called Okada, at Ajao Estate area of Lagos.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the team of heavily armed Policemen from the Department of Operations at the Command Headquarters stormed the popular but notorious Okada riders park near Eleganza and Canoe areas and impounded some motorcycles in line with the implementation of the State Government’s restriction order.

However, the riders were angry over the constant raids and tried to resist Police efforts to impound their bikes. Some of them reportedly cleverly but dangerously manouvered their bikes out from the area while others were unfortunate as their bikes were impounded.

It was gathered that those that managed to escape re-grouped in their numbers armed with dangerous weapons, which included cudgels, sticks and stones. They succeeded in chasing the armed Policemen out from there and even continued the chase towards the main gate leading to the estate. 

The Police team, led by CSP Abonde, was said to have abandoned their patrol vehicle and disappeared in different directions and abandoning CSP Abonde, who was busy making frantic efforts to calm the situation. He was shot from the surging crowd and he fell down. He was said to have bled profusely before he was rushed to a nearby hospital.While he was being taken to the hospital, the enraged riders reportedly pounced on the wounded officer, smashed his head with large stones and cudgels and took his official pistol.

Meanwhile, the Executive Chairman of Isolo LCDA, Otunba  Adebayo Olasoju, has appealed for calm by the law abiding residents of Ajao Estate and other concerned parties as regards the violence that erupted in the area.
As the Chief Security Officer of the Council Area, Otunba Olasoju, accompanied by the Area D Police Commander and top officials of his administration has visited the scene of the violent clash ordering a comprehensive investigation into the matter.

“It is expedient to make it clear to all concerned that violence, in whatever form, cannot solve any misunderstanding and therefore, should be eschewed. Ajao Estate, being a major  entry point to especially, foreigners coming into our dear nation, deserves the serenity obtainable in city of equal status in advanced countries.”

“While investigation into both the remote and immediate causes of the violence is being carried out, the law abiding citizens of Ajao Estate are hereby urged to go about their lawful businesses as there is enough security presence to forestall a resurgence” Otunba Olasoju said.